Nagpur: UPA was a sinking ship which the allies were about to desert, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday.

"UPA's political condition is very bad. It is a sinking ship and therefore allies are about to desert it," Gadkari said, commenting on the current stand-off between Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Congress.

The BJP chief launched a party membership drive here by enrolling himself anew as a member.

On Rahul Gandhi's statement that he was ready to take up a bigger responsibility within Congress, Gadkari said, "What bigger responsibility? He is already holding a high position in the party. What difference he is going to make?"

People had seen Rahul's performance in the Uttar Pradesh elections, Gadkari said, adding that whether it was Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi or the Prime Minister himself playing `proactive' role, it would hardly make any impact, as the people had realised that UPA was taking them for a ride.

He also claimed that while BJP had gained 19 percent vote share in 2009, it would gain 29 per cent votes in the next general elections.

The party would focus on five segments, Gadkari added: scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities, unorganized labour and the professionals such as charted accountants and lawyers.